Sourav Ganguly and my wife pushed me to play in Bengal this year: Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha announced that he will retire from all forms of cricket at the end of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. Saha plays for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and last appeared for India in December 2021. The wicketkeeper-batter became the go-to option for the Indian team after MS Dhoni’s Test retirement and before Rishabh Pant burst out onto the scene.  

The emergence of Pant meant that Saha could only act as the backup wicketkeeper, with KL Rahul being another option. Ahead of Bengal’s game against Karnataka, which commenced on November 6, Saha revealed that the latest season was not in his plan, but former India captain Sourav Ganguly and Saha’s wife pushed him to go for one more season.

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"I wasn't going to play this year. But Sourav Ganguly and my wife pushed me to play in Bengal this year. I played in Tripura for two years and then came to Bengal, and I am pushing for the last year. But this season, due to my body condition and injuries, I won't be able to play for the full season. So I chose the most vital format. It will still be tough, but I will play,” said Saha as quoted by Cricbuzz.

I was already prepared that I won't even play this year: Saha

With his retirement, the 40-year-old also ended his 17-year stint with the Indian Premier League. He last appeared in the cash-rich league for the Gujarat Titans, and fans will not be able to find his name among the 1165 Indian players who will enter the mega auction on November 24 and 25. Moreover, he added that his decision to bid adieu to the sport was not a tough one.

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"It was very easy for me. I was already prepared that I won't even play this year. I'd been prepared from last year itself that I wasn't going to play this year, but I've been pushed [to play on]. So I couldn't refuse them [his wife, and Ganguly]. When I started from Bengal last year, I played there again and there was an emotional attachment," he added.